USA Tour 2011 #18

Another "floater" awaited Greg in the 2nd round of the Binghamton Challenger, this time in the form of 31 year-old Chilean Nicolas Massu, a former top 10 player, with a high ranking of 9, but struggling at the moment, ranked at 452. Greg beat Massu recently in the final qualifying round in Los Angeles, but Massu has had quite a few matches since then and, with 10 more years on the tour than Greg, will be tough to beat.

Courts in the suburbs of Binghamton

Greg served first and both players traded breaks of serve, with Greg saving 3 of 5 break points whilst Massu saved 4 from 5, in getting to 5-5 in the 1st set. Massu then broke Greg again to take a 6-5 lead and served out the hotly contested first set 7-5. 1-0 to Massu.

Greg showed his tough mental strength in holding confidently to start the 2nd set and then broke Massu and held serve again to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Massu managed to hold after a long deuce game to get to 3-1. Two good holds of serve took them to 4-2, then Greg faced break point twice in the seventh game before closing the game for a 5-2 lead. He then got Massu to 15-40 and converted the 2nd set-point to win the set 6-2 and tie the match up at 1-set all.

Nicolas Massu

In the 3rd set, with Greg again serving first, games went with serve to 2-2. Greg was then forced to save a break-point, doing so with an ace, to stay ahead 3-2. Massu served for 3-3, then again got Greg to break point twice, Greg saving both before closing the game with an ace, to lead 4-3. In the next game Greg forced Massu to 15-40, only to see Massu save both to get back to deuce. Greg was not done and brought up another break-point, this time converting to go up a break at 5-3. Greg served for the match and brought up two match points. Massu saved the first but not the second and Greg was the winner, winning the 3rd set 6-3 and a hard fought match 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

A good come-back win match for Greg in which he was never out-classed and showed good mental ability in hanging tough when required and taking the opportunities when required.